The Pledge [Mass Market Paperback]

Rob Kean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2000

Simsbury College lacrosse star Mark Jessey looks on the members of the Sigma fraternity as his only true family. But when a Sigma freshman turns up dead, Mark is forced to question his deepest loyalties.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First novelist Kean's overlong tale of a pervasive, sinister college fraternity fails to thrill, and offers few other virtues. When freshman pledge Chad Ewing is found bloodied and dying after a hazing party for Sigma, the most prestigious frat on the campus of Maine's Simsbury College, scandal threatens the unsullied reputation of the elite school. Kean's hero, Mark JessyAa Simsbury senior, a former Sigma, a Native American and an all-American lacrosse starAlives under a cloud: accused of date rape two years before, Mark had escaped expulsion, but was forced to disaffiliate from his fraternity. Moreover (in a "punishment" no more implausible than Kean's other plot twists), Mark was named to serve on the college's student disciplinary tribunal, the D-Squad. Now Ewing's death threatens to bring Sigma's leaders before the D-Squad, charged with a fatal hazing, but penalties against the fraternity might expose Sigma's conspiracy of powerful, rich alumni, which even controls the FBI. The unscrupulous dean attempts an elaborate coverup, but the loose ends refuse to stay concealed. As a former Sigma brother himself, Mark could help prove the frat's crimesAif he discovers them, which Sigma isn't about to let him do. Mark's girlfriend and fellow D-Squad member, lovely blonde ski-champion Shawn Jakes, must convince him to help her investigate. As their fears of discovery escalate, Sigma's partisans resort to violence, and a narrative that began with a campus imbroglio ends with a string of combats and hot pursuits. Kean, a 28-year-old former frat brother at Bowdoin College in Maine, loses control of his narrative as it moves forward, letting subplots proliferate. Between the treatment of trumped-up date-rape charges and the running jokes at the expense of the Simsbury Women's Association, a group of caricatured females with a strident antimale agenda, readers familiar with the campus debates on which Kean's story draws may find him less antifrat than antifeminist. Only the gossipy sketches of collegiate life make this disjointed, clich?-ridden novel somewhat entertaining. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Warner is hot for this debut, which features Simsbury College lacrosse star Mark Jessy. When a Sigma freshman pledge turns up dead, Mark investigatesAand discovers that the fraternity is a top-secret criminal organization. Look for the motion picture.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 736 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446608483
• ISBN-13: 978-0446608480
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,716,408 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fraternities Can Be Bad For Your Health, October 27, 2000

By 

P. Connors "Colonialpara" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pledge (Hardcover)

This is a fine debut novel from an an author I hope we see more from. Rob Kean has given his readers a gripping story on how power corrupts and things that people will do to maintain that power.

Being a young man not too far removed from his own college days has also permitted Mr Kean to keep his details current, lively and informative. This is a book that could be read by college students AND their parents and both groups would be able to enjoy it. In addition to a deftly paced plot, the author also provides a morality play within the courtroom and murder subplots that co-exist within the pages of this great read.

While set on a fictional college campus, this is primarily a murder mystery with some really well done courtroom drama thrown in for amplification. Kean does a fine job of building his characters as well and by book's end, I am sure every reader will have found a new level of respect and admiration for Kean's hero, Mark Jessy.

I really enjoyed this book and can heartily recommend it to to college aged folks and their parents with equal fervor. Pick it up and read a great debut novel. I don't think you'll be sorry you did.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fastest 700-plus pages I've ever read!, July 17, 2000

By 

Dunn Neugebauer (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pledge (Mass Market Paperback)

Simply written, with the pace of a James Patterson, the story line of a Sydney Sheldon and the plot of a Pat Conroy (Lords of Discipline) - this book held my attention for the three nights it took me to read it. Though reviewers seem to worry about whether it could happen or not, I'm thinking "who cares?" It's a good read, there are NO slow parts, and Mark Jessy is a hero, a la Will McClean of Conroy fame. Good for you Rob Kean, good for you. I eagerly await your next syllable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Unreadable!, August 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Pledge (Mass Market Paperback)

It's not often that I can't finish a book; usually if I can't it's due to a lack of plot interest. This is the first book I haven't been able to finish because I disliked every single character, even the two so-called good guys. The first hundred pages had nothing but evil characters manipulating and getting away with everything. I disliked the main good guy (can't even remember his name) for ever being involved in such a disgusting frat, and his girlfriend for going out with him; for someone who was so against frats, it seems strange that she should be going out with a former frat member.

One hundred pages into the book, and there was not even a glimmer of hope that the evils of the frat would be punished. All of the actions of the characters were infuriating and just depressing to read.

Thanks goodness I didn't buy even the paperback version of this book; it would be one that I couldn't even display on my bookshelf.